Black American Sheet Music Collection
The Bank of America Black American Sheet Music Collection consists of approximately 4000 pieces of published sheet music reflecting the influences of African Americans on popular music in the United States. The music was created by, performed by, published by, or portrays Black and African American themes throughout the 19th and 20th centuries in the United States. The collection highlights popular vocal music, jazz, big band, and swing music published in the United States. The earliest piece in the collection dates to 1818, and the latest editions date into the 1980s, thereby giving a chronicle of the evolution of Black-inspired music in America for almost 200 years. Some imagery and lyrics in this collection reflect harmful racist depictions of Black people and are included in the collections for their use in academic research.
Content Warning:
USF Libraries’ Digital Collections include historical and primary sources from many cultures and time periods. Some content may be harmful, graphic, difficult to view, or reflect biases. Digital Collections provides access to these materials to preserve the historical record, but we do not endorse the attitudes, prejudices, or behaviors found within them. USF Libraries’ is committed to conscious editing of Libraries’ generated descriptive terminology that may be offensive, harmful, or out of date.
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Popular Song Album of George H. Primrose and His Famous Minstrel Company
Christopher M. Smith, John Larkins, Joseph W. Stern, and Edward B. Marks
Shame On You; Take These Flowers, Old Lady; A Rich Coon's Babe; Lover's A.B.C.
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Rap, Rap, Rap, on Your Minstrel Bones
Albert Von Tilzer and Lew Brown
Words by Lew Brown. Music by Albert Von Tilzer.
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Read 'Em and Weep, A
Albert Bernard and Walter Haenschen
Words by Albert Bernard. Music by Walter Haenschen.
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Read 'Em and Weep, B
Albert Bernard and Walter Haenschen
Note: This copy is missing pages. Words by Albert Bernard. Music by Walter Haenschen.
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Rememb'ring
Duncan Sisters and Sam H. Harris
The Duncan Sisters by arrangement with Sam H. Harris in "Topsy and Eva."
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Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody
Jean Schwartz, Sam M. Lewis, and Joe Young
As introduced by Al Jolson.
